Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of the introduction of an industry-wide (a) accreditation and (b) kitemark scheme for the safe fabrication of engineered stone products.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) supports the introduction of an industry-led quality standard by the Worktop Fabricators Federation in collaboration with the British Occupational Hygiene Society. Accredited fabricators must be independently audited by an Occupational Hygienist registered with the British Occupational Hygiene Society to confirm they meet all of the scheme’s criteria, which are in line with HSE’s regulatory approach to protecting workers.